Multiple Blasts In Jakarta School Mosque During Friday Prayers
Key Takeaways
- 54 injured in mosque explosions during Friday prayers
- Blasts originated near mosque loudspeaker system
- Toy weapons found at scene, investigation continues
Where It Happened
- Mosque at SMA 27 high school
JAKARTA — Multiple explosions tore through a mosque at SMA 27 high school during Friday prayers in Jakarta, injuring at least 54 people, most of them students.
The blasts occurred around midday as the sermon began at the mosque located within a navy compound in the city’s northern Kelapa Gading neighborhood.
What Witnesses Saw
Witnesses reported at least two loud explosions that sent students and worshipers fleeing as gray smoke filled the prayer space.
Jakarta Police Chief Asep Edi Suheri confirmed most victims sustained injuries from flying glass shards, with conditions ranging from minor to severe.
Injuries and Emergency Response
Emergency services transported the injured to nearby hospitals, where 20 students remained under medical care hours after the incident. Three students sustained serious injuries according to police statements, while others were treated and released.
Possible Cause of the Explosions
Chief Suheri revealed that the explosions appeared to originate near the mosque’s loudspeaker system. An anti-bomb squad dispatched to the scene discovered toy rifles and a toy gun in the vicinity, though the police chief emphasized the investigation remains ongoing.
Police Statement and Public Advisory
“Police are still investigating the scene to determine the cause of the blasts,” Suheri stated, specifically urging the public to avoid speculation that the incident constituted a deliberate attack before official findings are complete. “Let the authorities work first. We will convey whatever the results are to the public.”
The state high school serves students within a military compound, though authorities have not indicated any connection between the facility’s location and the explosions.
The incident is one of the largest emergency responses in Jakarta in recent months, though officials have not raised the city’s security alert level.
